Cotton’s Cay in the corner pocket

Live music every weekend - we can definitely dig that. Photo courtesy of Cotton's Cay's Facebook page

Things to know when you walk in: Walking up to Cotton’s Cay can be a bit overwhelming. First of all, Google maps completely failed me on pinpointing the accurate location. Without the eyes of my co-pilot, I might have ended somewhere off in a wooded preserve.

One thing may help in finding this off-the-beaten-path watering hole: It’s huge. In fact, it’s one of the biggest bars I’ve seen outside of dance halls like Whiskey River and the Longhorn Club.

You can’t help but get a little muddy approaching the front door after a week of non-stop rain. But all of these facts combined made finding this bar all the more pleasant.

Layout: Walk in, turn right, find the beer. Even on a slow night, the bar counter is almost completely full with regulars chatting up the bartender. You’ll probably be carded before getting too far into the front room, whatever your age. And if you’re feeling sad because you normally sit at the bar counter to secure prompt service, don’t worry; there are tons of seating options, none of which come with a long wait for beer.

To the back, straight behind the bar, is the dance floor. Looking up while dancing, though

Pete Churton/cat5

ill-advised for balance, will reveal many interesting decorations perched on rafters. In fact, a quick look around any room isn’t enough to discover all of the crazy wall hangings that make up the decor of this bar.

But more importantly, Cotton’s Cay boasts 12 pool tables, a Golden Tee machine, gaming machines, shuffleboard and even washers tournaments. If you’re looking for entertainment on a rainy or dull evening, you’ve found the solution.

Atmosphere: Vintage barber chairs, lewd squirrel posters, and more flags than the Olympic opening ceremonies all make up the eclectic decor of Cotton’s Cay. Set against basic plywood paneling, the dress of customers ranges from sweatpants to heels. On the average night, you’ll find yourself listening to the sounds of a dozen pool games, a mostly country jukebox and the laughter of regulars.

Pete Churton/cat5

If you plan to drink: Your options are limited to beer and wine coolers, but sharing a bucket of beer with friends is always a welcome start to an evening. Beer selection includes all the basic favorites, a bottle of Bud Light cost $2.50, plus Lone Star and Shiner Black, the latter of which cost $3.

And that rag they give you with your beer bucket? Stick that under the bucket or you’ll find your table soaking wet in no time.

Don’t miss: Tuesday nights it’s free to play pool and the bar is currently running washer tournaments with a $10 buy in. On Friday nights, find a different band every week providing some live music. Karaoke is hosted most Saturday nights. If there’s a good game on, the normally scheduled entertainment may halt so that patrons can watch the action.

Verdict: Without the authority of anyone but myself, I’m going to name this bar the

If pool's your game, this place definitely has you covered. Pete Churton/cat5

Entertainment Center of Orange. If you’ve read any of my Orange bar reviews, you know that Orange is one of my favorite places to drink. The people are friendly and they like to have a good time, which means they rank as awesome in my book.

And not to be rude to other bars in Orange, because they’ve all been wonderful thus far, but on sheer size and availability, they can’t out-entertain Cotton’s Cay. Plus, Cotton’s Cay has the added benefit of being casual, meaning that whether in workout gear or straight from a day of work, you’ll feel comfortable in this bar.